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NFL · 27.6% OF ALL CONTRACT MONEY

NFL signing bonus money

$13,234,614,829 paid up front across 1,905 careers, 27.6% of everything the league has itemised.

A signing bonus is the one part of an NFL contract that is real the moment the pen moves. It is handed over at once, it does not come back if the player is cut, and it is the number an agent argues about first.

PAID UP FRONT $13.23bn
BIGGEST CAREER $182.5m
SHARE OF A CONTRACT 27.6%
CAREERS WITH ANY 1,905
OVER $50M 27

The twenty biggest signing bonus careers

Money paid up front, across a whole career

6 careers over $100m

Aaron Rodgers $183m Russell Wilson $148m Dak Prescott $146m Matthew Stafford $137m Jared Goff $117m Kirk Cousins $108m Jordan Love $90m Trent Williams $87m Deshaun Watson $80m Lamar Jackson $77m Joe Flacco $75m Nick Bosa $72m Leonard Williams $71m Stefon Diggs $65m Baker Mayfield $64m Joe Burrow $64m Khalil Mack $64m Trevor Lawrence $62m Tua Tagovailoa $62m Joey Bosa $59m

Aaron Rodgers is 2nd on the all-time earnings list and first on this one, which is the whole point of separating the two figures. A player who signs three big deals collects three bonuses, and a player who signs one long one collects a single larger cheque, so this list rewards the middle of a career rather than the length of it.

Every career with signing bonus money

Ranked by what was paid up front

1,905 careers

# Player Position Franchise Share of career Earned Signing bonus
001 Aaron Rodgers California Quarterback New York Jets 43.6% $418.2m $182,514,706$182.5m
002 Russell Wilson Wisconsin Quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers 48.4% $304.2m $147,829,400$147.8m
003 Dak Prescott Mississippi State Quarterback Dallas Cowboys 33.5% $331.3m $146,383,393$146.4m
004 Matthew Stafford Georgia Quarterback Los Angeles Rams 32.3% $426.3m $137,500,000$137.5m
005 Jared Goff California Quarterback Detroit Lions 29.0% $312.1m $116,518,308$116.5m
006 Kirk Cousins Michigan State Quarterback Atlanta Falcons 26.3% $366.7m $108,472,688$108.5m
007 Jordan Love Utah St Quarterback Green Bay Packers 36.4% $162.9m $90,354,803$90.4m
008 Trent Williams Oklahoma Left Tackle San Francisco 49ers 34.8% $251.4m $86,617,352$86.6m
009 Deshaun Watson Clemson Quarterback Cleveland Browns 42.5% $188.8m $80,180,841$80.2m
010 Lamar Jackson Louisville Quarterback Baltimore Ravens 26.5% $240.0m $77,468,471$77.5m
011 Joe Flacco Delaware Quarterback Indianapolis Colts 41.5% $180.2m $74,784,444$74.8m
012 Nick Bosa Ohio State Defensive End San Francisco 49ers 32.9% $155.4m $72,421,356$72.4m
013 Leonard Williams Southern California Defensive End Seattle Seahawks 40.5% $172.3m $70,539,296$70.5m
014 Stefon Diggs Maryland Wide Receiver Houston Texans 47.3% $137.4m $64,777,713$64.8m
015 Baker Mayfield Oklahoma Quarterback Tampa Bay Buccaneers 41.3% $153.4m $64,099,440$64.1m
016 Joe Burrow Louisiana State Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals 18.8% $212.4m $63,880,100$63.9m
017 Khalil Mack Buffalo Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers 37.5% $169.5m $63,648,272$63.6m
018 Trevor Lawrence Clemson Quarterback Jacksonville Jaguars 18.3% $145.1m $61,618,900$61.6m
019 Tua Tagovailoa Alabama Quarterback Miami Dolphins 23.4% $179.5m $61,578,500$61.6m
020 Joey Bosa Ohio State Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers 35.1% $168.3m $59,017,226$59.0m
021 Tyreek Hill West Alabama Wide Receiver Miami Dolphins 30.8% $183.5m $55,410,000$55.4m
022 Daniel Jones Duke Quarterback New York Giants 28.3% $186.1m $52,684,768$52.7m
023 Kyler Murray Oklahoma Quarterback Arizona Cardinals 18.1% $213.3m $52,624,924$52.6m
024 Jalen Ramsey Florida State Cornerback Miami Dolphins 24.8% $164.4m $51,369,105$51.4m
025 Derek Carr Fresno State Quarterback New Orleans Saints 17.8% $285.7m $50,726,764$50.7m
026 Cameron Heyward Ohio State Defensive End Pittsburgh Steelers 31.3% $160.6m $50,326,384$50.3m
027 Laremy Tunsil Mississippi Left Tackle Houston Texans 30.9% $163.8m $50,260,109$50.3m
028 Tyrann Mathieu Louisiana State Safety New Orleans Saints 47.3% $104.8m $49,565,000$49.6m
029 Von Miller Texas A&M Defensive End Buffalo Bills 19.5% $224.9m $49,370,227$49.4m
030 Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina Outside Linebacker Carolina Panthers 48.0% $105.1m $49,268,544$49.3m
031 Kenny Clark California-Los Angeles Defensive Tackle Green Bay Packers 32.3% $131.3m $47,508,470$47.5m
032 DeAndre Hopkins Clemson Wide Receiver Tennessee Titans 33.2% $142.0m $46,908,359$46.9m
033 Joshua Hines-Allen Kentucky Outside Linebacker Jacksonville Jaguars 27.0% $124.7m $46,560,100$46.6m
034 Christian McCaffrey Stanford Running Back San Francisco 49ers 37.1% $109.7m $46,469,128$46.5m
035 Quenton Nelson Notre Dame Guard Indianapolis Colts 39.1% $118.8m $46,453,750$46.5m
036 Quinnen Williams Alabama Defensive Tackle New York Jets 34.3% $113.1m $46,177,724$46.2m
037 CeeDee Lamb Oklahoma Wide Receiver Dallas Cowboys 27.9% $107.1m $45,749,100$45.7m
038 A.J. Brown Mississippi Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles 31.2% $120.6m $45,730,282$45.7m
039 D.J. Moore Maryland Wide Receiver Chicago Bears 23.9% $120.9m $45,704,593$45.7m
040 Za'Darius Smith Kentucky Defensive End Cleveland Browns 45.4% $101.0m $45,608,152$45.6m
041 Leonard Floyd Georgia Defensive End San Francisco 49ers 53.1% $85.4m $45,303,444$45.3m
042 Rashan Gary Michigan Defensive End Green Bay Packers 36.7% $101.0m $44,204,076$44.2m
043 Justin Jefferson Louisiana State Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings 25.8% $109.0m $44,041,856$44.0m
044 Brian Burns Florida State Outside Linebacker New York Giants 25.6% $119.8m $42,867,404$42.9m
045 Lane Johnson Oklahoma Right Tackle Philadelphia Eagles 23.7% $178.9m $42,723,112$42.7m
046 Odell Beckham, Jr. Louisiana State Wide Receiver Miami Dolphins 41.7% $97.6m $42,263,144$42.3m
047 Danielle Hunter Louisiana State Defensive End Houston Texans 29.8% $143.9m $42,127,223$42.1m
048 Myles Garrett Texas A&M Defensive End Cleveland Browns 24.3% $169.5m $41,258,004$41.3m
049 Jameis Winston Florida State Quarterback Cleveland Browns 53.9% $76.1m $40,970,292$41.0m
050 Calais Campbell Miami (FL) Defensive End Miami Dolphins 28.4% $143.7m $40,870,000$40.9m
051 Patrick Mahomes Texas Tech Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs 8.2% $288.8m $40,660,470$40.7m
052 T.J. Watt Wisconsin Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers 30.7% $132.0m $40,466,974$40.5m
053 Darius Slay Mississippi State Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles 31.8% $125.8m $39,989,179$40.0m
054 Derrick Brown Auburn Defensive Tackle Carolina Panthers 31.5% $84.4m $39,739,204$39.7m
055 Denzel Ward Ohio State Cornerback Cleveland Browns 27.8% $123.5m $39,291,168$39.3m
056 DeMarcus Lawrence Boise State Defensive End Dallas Cowboys 30.8% $127.3m $39,188,080$39.2m
057 Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame Left Tackle Baltimore Ravens 35.7% $108.6m $38,597,695$38.6m
058 Stephon Gilmore South Carolina Cornerback Minnesota Vikings 32.0% $116.4m $38,584,697$38.6m
059 Davante Adams Fresno State Wide Receiver Las Vegas Raiders 19.2% $202.2m $38,430,656$38.4m
060 Preston Smith Mississippi State Defensive End Green Bay Packers 36.6% $104.8m $37,163,167$37.2m
061 Chris Jones Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Kansas City Chiefs 13.8% $185.5m $36,981,801$37.0m
062 Jaire Alexander Louisville Cornerback Green Bay Packers 34.4% $109.4m $36,844,166$36.8m
063 Mike Williams Clemson Wide Receiver New York Jets 43.7% $84.2m $36,803,584$36.8m
064 Tyler Lockett Kansas State Wide Receiver Seattle Seahawks 35.4% $106.1m $36,786,751$36.8m
065 Jake Matthews Texas A&M Left Tackle Atlanta Falcons 23.1% $158.7m $36,714,728$36.7m
066 Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin Guard Detroit Lions 40.0% $92.1m $36,631,692$36.6m
067 Jonathan Allen Alabama Defensive Tackle Washington Commanders 40.1% $94.0m $36,573,728$36.6m
068 Daron Payne Alabama Defensive Tackle Washington Commanders 32.8% $112.9m $36,566,080$36.6m
069 Chris Lindstrom Boston College Guard Atlanta Falcons 27.7% $93.7m $36,217,276$36.2m
070 Andrew Thomas Georgia Left Tackle New York Giants 22.8% $99.3m $36,084,064$36.1m
071 Javon Hargrave South Carolina State Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers 28.9% $127.2m $35,943,256$35.9m
072 Jaylen Waddle Alabama Wide Receiver Miami Dolphins 28.5% $76.1m $35,931,904$35.9m
073 Cameron Jordan California Defensive End New Orleans Saints 23.7% $150.5m $35,622,836$35.6m
074 Arik Armstead Oregon Defensive End Jacksonville Jaguars 28.7% $124.7m $35,418,276$35.4m
075 Carson Wentz North Dakota State Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs 26.7% $132.8m $35,108,656$35.1m
076 Saquon Barkley Penn State Running Back Philadelphia Eagles 40.4% $86.4m $34,892,092$34.9m
077 Bobby Wagner Utah State Inside Linebacker Washington Commanders 32.4% $102.0m $34,802,944$34.8m
078 Grady Jarrett Clemson Defensive Tackle Atlanta Falcons 28.4% $122.4m $34,747,853$34.7m
079 Dante Fowler Jr. Florida Defensive End Washington Commanders 53.0% $64.4m $34,699,934$34.7m
080 Jamal Adams Louisiana State Safety Tennessee Titans 49.2% $70.1m $34,495,654$34.5m
081 Tristan Wirfs Iowa Left Tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19.6% $94.5m $34,362,200$34.4m
082 Roquan Smith Georgia Inside Linebacker Baltimore Ravens 26.4% $108.6m $34,017,941$34.0m
083 Mitchell Trubisky North Carolina Quarterback Buffalo Bills 65.3% $51.2m $33,424,490$33.4m
084 Brandin Cooks Oregon State Wide Receiver Dallas Cowboys 28.7% $106.5m $33,417,056$33.4m
085 Christian Wilkins Clemson Defensive Tackle Las Vegas Raiders 24.7% $110.6m $33,248,436$33.2m
086 Justin Herbert Oregon Quarterback Los Angeles Chargers 10.4% $180.2m $33,018,380$33.0m
087 A.J. Terrell Clemson Cornerback Atlanta Falcons 30.6% $71.8m $32,964,180$33.0m
088 DeVonta Smith Alabama Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles 30.0% $64.7m $32,359,838$32.4m
089 Orlando Brown Jr. Oklahoma Left Tackle Cincinnati Bengals 37.8% $87.6m $31,965,720$32.0m
090 D.K. Metcalf Mississippi Wide Receiver Seattle Seahawks 39.3% $79.7m $31,355,308$31.4m
091 Jeffery Simmons Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Tennessee Titans 27.1% $93.8m $31,230,004$31.2m
092 Terron Armstead Arkansas-Pine Bluff Left Tackle Miami Dolphins 22.7% $140.2m $30,917,436$30.9m
093 Jordan Mailata Left Tackle Philadelphia Eagles 28.3% $105.3m $30,839,393$30.8m
094 Mike Evans Texas A&M Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20.3% $151.4m $30,751,092$30.8m
095 Zack Martin Notre Dame Guard Dallas Cowboys 27.1% $113.2m $30,642,036$30.6m
096 Demario Davis Arkansas State Inside Linebacker New Orleans Saints 38.7% $78.9m $30,577,960$30.6m
097 T.J. Hockenson Iowa Tight End Minnesota Vikings 32.6% $77.2m $30,435,436$30.4m
098 Adam Thielen Minnesota-Mankato Wide Receiver Carolina Panthers 36.8% $83.4m $30,335,000$30.3m
099 Harrison Smith Notre Dame Safety Minnesota Vikings 24.8% $122.7m $30,211,082$30.2m
100 Josh Allen Wyoming Quarterback Buffalo Bills 9.9% $221.1m $29,985,846$30.0m
101 Robert Hunt Louisiana-Lafayette Guard Carolina Panthers 27.3% $72.6m $29,925,992$29.9m
102 Penei Sewell Oregon Right Tackle Detroit Lions 19.3% $83.1m $29,886,596$29.9m
103 Brandon Aiyuk Arizona State Wide Receiver San Francisco 49ers 20.7% $88.5m $29,673,704$29.7m
104 Dexter Lawrence Clemson Defensive Tackle New York Giants 27.6% $92.0m $29,654,936$29.7m
105 Andy Dalton Texas Christian Quarterback Carolina Panthers 26.8% $110.6m $29,647,144$29.6m
106 Marcus Mariota Oregon Quarterback Washington Commanders 39.3% $75.5m $29,455,164$29.5m
107 DeForest Buckner Oregon Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts 18.3% $160.6m $29,429,814$29.4m
108 Taylor Decker Ohio State Left Tackle Detroit Lions 21.7% $120.0m $29,415,985$29.4m
109 Geno Smith West Virginia Quarterback Seattle Seahawks 31.5% $92.4m $29,130,620$29.1m
110 Dalvin Tomlinson Alabama Defensive Tackle Cleveland Browns 36.1% $82.6m $29,050,164$29.1m
111 Terry McLaurin Ohio State Wide Receiver Washington Commanders 40.3% $74.4m $29,003,220$29.0m
112 Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame Right Tackle Denver Broncos 24.9% $99.5m $28,919,434$28.9m
113 Ryan Ramczyk Wisconsin Right Tackle New Orleans Saints 27.2% $106.1m $28,896,585$28.9m
114 Brandon Scherff Iowa Guard Jacksonville Jaguars 26.1% $110.7m $28,689,555$28.7m
115 Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama Safety Pittsburgh Steelers 28.4% $110.1m $28,625,215$28.6m
116 Sam Darnold Southern California Quarterback Minnesota Vikings 43.7% $65.3m $27,828,338$27.8m
117 Jack Conklin Michigan State Right Tackle Cleveland Browns 24.4% $117.0m $27,761,933$27.8m
118 Deebo Samuel South Carolina Wide Receiver San Francisco 49ers 34.3% $82.0m $27,653,076$27.7m
119 Derwin James Florida State Safety Los Angeles Chargers 28.2% $98.0m $27,622,150$27.6m
120 Patrick Surtain II Alabama Cornerback Denver Broncos 20.3% $75.8m $27,605,548$27.6m
121 Haason Reddick Temple Outside Linebacker New York Jets 52.1% $52.1m $27,167,157$27.2m
122 Jeff Okudah Ohio State Cornerback Houston Texans 71.7% $34.6m $27,126,472$27.1m
123 Ed Oliver Houston Defensive Tackle Buffalo Bills 27.8% $83.7m $27,079,204$27.1m
124 Cooper Kupp Eastern Washington Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams 20.2% $133.5m $26,954,760$27.0m
125 Elgton Jenkins Mississippi State Guard Green Bay Packers 35.9% $77.9m $26,952,812$27.0m
126 Uchenna Nwosu Southern California Outside Linebacker Seattle Seahawks 39.1% $70.0m $26,768,783$26.8m
127 Marlon Humphrey Alabama Cornerback Baltimore Ravens 22.3% $120.0m $26,756,348$26.8m
128 Jacoby Brissett North Carolina State Quarterback New England Patriots 46.1% $58.9m $26,680,604$26.7m
129 Xavier McKinney Alabama Safety Green Bay Packers 35.8% $58.5m $26,662,580$26.7m
130 Tyrod Taylor Virginia Tech Quarterback New York Jets 32.2% $82.6m $26,605,308$26.6m
131 Davon Godchaux Louisiana State Defensive Tackle New England Patriots 47.5% $57.9m $26,201,937$26.2m
132 Garett Bolles Utah Left Tackle Denver Broncos 33.1% $79.3m $26,163,203$26.2m
133 Nnamdi Madubuike Texas A&M Defensive Tackle Baltimore Ravens 25.0% $81.9m $26,089,680$26.1m
134 Calvin Ridley Alabama Wide Receiver Tennessee Titans 23.2% $92.0m $26,007,790$26.0m
135 Shaq Thompson Washington Inside Linebacker Carolina Panthers 38.3% $69.0m $25,966,344$26.0m
136 Mitch Morse Missouri Center Jacksonville Jaguars 38.0% $68.6m $25,658,598$25.7m
137 Zach Wilson Brigham Young Quarterback Denver Broncos 73.0% $32.4m $25,650,769$25.7m
138 Caleb Williams Southern California Quarterback Chicago Bears 64.7% $33.3m $25,537,132$25.5m
139 Hunter Henry Arkansas Tight End New England Patriots 32.7% $81.4m $25,340,223$25.3m
140 Matt Judon Grand Valley State Outside Linebacker Atlanta Falcons 34.4% $74.6m $25,255,736$25.3m
141 Jalen Hurts Oklahoma Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles 9.6% $161.9m $25,235,944$25.2m
142 Amari Cooper Alabama Wide Receiver Cleveland Browns 21.6% $116.3m $25,154,031$25.2m
143 Chase Young Ohio State Defensive End New Orleans Saints 63.5% $48.6m $25,118,271$25.1m
144 Christian Darrisaw Virginia Tech Left Tackle Minnesota Vikings 19.8% $69.6m $25,066,284$25.1m
145 De'Vondre Campbell Minnesota Outside Linebacker San Francisco 49ers 64.6% $39.2m $24,925,528$24.9m
146 Tytus Howard Alabama State Right Tackle Houston Texans 31.3% $81.3m $24,911,308$24.9m
147 Jonah Williams Alabama Right Tackle Arizona Cardinals 41.9% $60.3m $24,841,940$24.8m
148 Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State Running Back Dallas Cowboys 33.3% $75.7m $24,825,066$24.8m
149 Bud Dupree Kentucky Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers 31.4% $80.3m $24,747,114$24.7m
150 Zach Ertz Stanford Tight End Washington Commanders 33.9% $74.1m $24,708,811$24.7m
151 Bryce Young Alabama Quarterback Carolina Panthers 64.8% $38.0m $24,603,688$24.6m
152 JuJu Smith-Schuster Southern California Wide Receiver Kansas City Chiefs 63.6% $32.2m $24,546,475$24.5m
153 Travon Walker Georgia Outside Linebacker Jacksonville Jaguars 65.1% $37.4m $24,360,088$24.4m
154 Jayden Daniels Louisiana State Quarterback Washington Commanders 64.3% $31.8m $24,272,108$24.3m
155 Taylor Moton Western Michigan Right Tackle Carolina Panthers 26.9% $89.9m $24,164,110$24.2m
156 James Bradberry Samford Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles 30.5% $78.1m $24,130,608$24.1m
157 Carlton Davis Auburn Cornerback Detroit Lions 48.9% $50.0m $24,019,992$24.0m
158 Maliek Collins Nebraska Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers 34.8% $60.1m $23,881,152$23.9m
159 Landon Dickerson Alabama Guard Philadelphia Eagles 20.1% $56.2m $23,750,764$23.8m
160 Keenan Allen California Wide Receiver Chicago Bears 17.7% $133.1m $23,613,800$23.6m
161 Drake Maye North Carolina Quarterback New England Patriots 64.0% $30.8m $23,467,100$23.5m
162 C.J. Stroud Ohio State Quarterback Houston Texans 64.5% $36.3m $23,384,904$23.4m
163 Clelin Ferrell Clemson Defensive End Washington Commanders 63.7% $37.6m $23,237,864$23.2m
164 Aidan Hutchinson Michigan Defensive End Detroit Lions 64.8% $35.7m $23,153,372$23.2m
165 Brandon Graham Michigan Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles 23.7% $97.8m $23,125,000$23.1m
166 Antoine Winfield Jr. Minnesota Safety Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24.7% $73.2m $22,874,316$22.9m
167 Mike Onwenu Michigan Right Tackle New England Patriots 37.3% $63.8m $22,702,476$22.7m
168 D.J. Reader Clemson Defensive Tackle Detroit Lions 29.6% $78.1m $22,680,380$22.7m
169 Larry Ogunjobi Charlotte Defensive End Pittsburgh Steelers 46.9% $48.3m $22,646,564$22.6m
170 Jawaan Taylor Florida Right Tackle Kansas City Chiefs 25.3% $89.3m $22,624,308$22.6m
171 Will Anderson Alabama Defensive End Houston Texans 64.2% $35.2m $22,609,328$22.6m
172 Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State Wide Receiver Arizona Cardinals 63.7% $29.8m $22,547,084$22.5m
173 Shaq Mason Georgia Tech Guard Houston Texans 27.2% $84.3m $22,443,525$22.4m
174 Tyron Smith Southern California Left Tackle New York Jets 17.8% $125.6m $22,388,072$22.4m
175 Derek Stingley Jr. Louisiana State Cornerback Houston Texans 64.6% $34.7m $22,385,464$22.4m
176 Christian Kirk Texas A&M Wide Receiver Jacksonville Jaguars 28.1% $80.8m $22,367,176$22.4m
177 Jaylon Johnson Utah Cornerback Chicago Bears 27.0% $68.3m $22,264,560$22.3m
178 Laken Tomlinson Duke Guard Seattle Seahawks 41.6% $53.9m $22,258,359$22.3m
179 Samuel Cosmi Texas Guard Washington Commanders 28.0% $49.2m $22,178,596$22.2m
180 Trey Lance North Dakota State Quarterback Dallas Cowboys 65.0% $34.1m $22,163,836$22.2m
181 Trevon Diggs Alabama Cornerback Dallas Cowboys 22.1% $63.6m $22,157,024$22.2m
182 Harold Landry Boston College Outside Linebacker Tennessee Titans 23.1% $95.3m $21,977,228$22.0m
183 Derrick Henry Alabama Running Back Baltimore Ravens 30.3% $72.4m $21,923,038$21.9m
184 Jimmie Ward Northern Illinois Safety Houston Texans 33.9% $65.5m $21,742,752$21.7m
185 Curtis Samuel Ohio State Wide Receiver Buffalo Bills 34.2% $64.9m $21,733,588$21.7m
186 Anthony Richardson Florida Quarterback Indianapolis Colts 63.9% $34.0m $21,722,932$21.7m
187 Josh Jacobs Alabama Running Back Green Bay Packers 31.8% $58.4m $21,698,840$21.7m
188 Kyle Dugger Lenoir-Rhyne Safety New England Patriots 34.6% $54.0m $21,619,564$21.6m
189 Christian Barmore Alabama Defensive Tackle New England Patriots 25.2% $51.5m $21,557,996$21.6m
190 Ahmad Gardner Cincinnati Cornerback New York Jets 64.3% $33.5m $21,507,856$21.5m
191 Evan Engram Mississippi Tight End Jacksonville Jaguars 42.5% $51.4m $21,435,130$21.4m
192 Kyle Pitts Florida Tight End Atlanta Falcons 48.5% $43.9m $21,294,904$21.3m
193 Brian O'Neill Pittsburgh Right Tackle Minnesota Vikings 22.0% $98.7m $21,284,828$21.3m
194 Marcus Davenport Texas-San Antonio Defensive End Detroit Lions 52.8% $40.6m $21,169,105$21.2m
195 Dre'Mont Jones Ohio State Defensive End Seattle Seahawks 37.7% $57.5m $21,066,400$21.1m
196 Solomon Thomas Stanford Defensive Tackle New York Jets 56.2% $38.3m $21,057,903$21.1m
197 Joe Alt Notre Dame Right Tackle Los Angeles Chargers 63.1% $27.8m $20,937,048$20.9m
198 David Onyemata Manitoba Defensive Tackle Atlanta Falcons 32.5% $65.1m $20,875,678$20.9m
199 Dion Dawkins Temple Left Tackle Buffalo Bills 17.1% $103.2m $20,782,356$20.8m
200 Kyle Van Noy Brigham Young Outside Linebacker Baltimore Ravens 40.7% $50.5m $20,776,986$20.8m
201 Foyesade Oluokun Yale Inside Linebacker Jacksonville Jaguars 26.7% $70.9m $20,646,629$20.6m
202 L'Jarius Sneed Louisiana Tech Cornerback Tennessee Titans 26.1% $65.8m $20,634,320$20.6m
203 Jarran Reed Alabama Defensive Tackle Seattle Seahawks 57.1% $36.9m $20,621,099$20.6m
204 Justin Simmons Boston College Safety Atlanta Falcons 29.1% $70.2m $20,395,420$20.4m
205 Devin White Louisiana State Inside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles 45.2% $45.5m $20,340,592$20.3m
206 Lavonte David Nebraska Inside Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21.4% $94.4m $20,224,896$20.2m
207 Devon Witherspoon Illinois Cornerback Seattle Seahawks 63.3% $31.9m $20,171,748$20.2m
208 Dorance Armstrong Kansas Defensive End Washington Commanders 42.9% $49.1m $20,169,996$20.2m
209 Linval Joseph East Carolina Defensive Tackle Dallas Cowboys 27.6% $73.6m $20,155,778$20.2m
210 Hayden Hurst South Carolina Tight End Los Angeles Chargers 69.6% $28.8m $20,026,201$20.0m
211 Quandre Diggs Texas Safety Tennessee Titans 37.2% $52.9m $20,013,293$20.0m
212 Sheldon Rankins Louisville Defensive Tackle Cincinnati Bengals 32.1% $65.4m $20,010,289$20.0m
213 C.J. Mosley Alabama Inside Linebacker New York Jets 19.4% $102.9m $20,001,272$20.0m
214 Andrus Peat Stanford Guard Las Vegas Raiders 32.2% $62.5m $19,996,179$20.0m
215 Kendall Fuller Virginia Tech Cornerback Miami Dolphins 33.7% $59.8m $19,983,424$20.0m
216 Kayvon Thibodeaux Oregon Outside Linebacker New York Giants 63.7% $31.3m $19,972,028$20.0m
217 Tyson Campbell Georgia Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars 23.6% $54.2m $19,916,440$19.9m
218 Kevin Byard Middle Tennessee State Safety Chicago Bears 27.7% $80.5m $19,897,060$19.9m
219 Adoree' Jackson Southern California Cornerback New York Giants 39.6% $51.2m $19,845,661$19.8m
220 Nelson Agholor Southern California Wide Receiver Baltimore Ravens 40.4% $49.1m $19,842,408$19.8m
221 Ja'Marr Chase Louisiana State Wide Receiver Cincinnati Bengals 37.6% $52.6m $19,774,284$19.8m
222 Jessie Bates III Wake Forest Safety Atlanta Falcons 23.5% $83.9m $19,678,410$19.7m
223 Chris Godwin Penn State Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24.2% $80.6m $19,542,164$19.5m
224 Justin Tucker Texas Kicker Baltimore Ravens 30.2% $59.5m $19,500,000$19.5m
225 Creed Humphrey Oklahoma Center Kansas City Chiefs 24.3% $45.0m $19,407,424$19.4m
226 Graham Glasgow Michigan Guard Detroit Lions 35.9% $54.2m $19,395,420$19.4m
227 Matt Milano Boston College Outside Linebacker Buffalo Bills 26.4% $74.2m $19,206,506$19.2m
228 Taysom Hill Brigham Young Tight End New Orleans Saints 30.5% $62.2m $19,130,000$19.1m
229 Lloyd Cushenberry Louisiana State Center Tennessee Titans 34.9% $44.6m $19,046,176$19.0m
230 Eric Kendricks California-Los Angeles Inside Linebacker Dallas Cowboys 34.5% $55.5m $19,009,760$19.0m
231 Andre Dillard Washington State Right Tackle Green Bay Packers 68.8% $23.9m $19,006,788$19.0m
232 Josh Sweat Florida State Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles 48.9% $39.3m $18,972,591$19.0m
233 Jordan Hicks Texas Inside Linebacker Cleveland Browns 40.6% $47.0m $18,942,732$18.9m
234 Michael Pittman Jr. Southern California Wide Receiver Indianapolis Colts 23.5% $80.0m $18,823,892$18.8m
235 Jerry Hughes Texas Christian Defensive End Houston Texans 20.7% $91.8m $18,720,000$18.7m
236 Trey Hendrickson Florida Atlantic Defensive End Cincinnati Bengals 22.4% $84.2m $18,706,288$18.7m
237 Diontae Johnson Toledo Wide Receiver Carolina Panthers 43.6% $42.7m $18,633,428$18.6m
238 Ronald Darby Florida State Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars 43.9% $43.3m $18,583,412$18.6m
239 Bradley Chubb North Carolina State Outside Linebacker Miami Dolphins 13.7% $113.1m $18,488,630$18.5m
240 Jonnu Smith Florida International Tight End Miami Dolphins 38.9% $48.2m $18,456,288$18.5m
241 Braden Smith Auburn Right Tackle Indianapolis Colts 23.3% $78.5m $18,311,774$18.3m
242 George Kittle Iowa Tight End San Francisco 49ers 24.1% $77.5m $18,298,287$18.3m
243 Cam Robinson Alabama Left Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars 26.7% $69.7m $18,244,118$18.2m
244 Shaquill Griffin Central Florida Cornerback Minnesota Vikings 46.3% $38.9m $18,158,620$18.2m
245 Joe Mixon Oklahoma Running Back Houston Texans 29.0% $64.3m $18,103,763$18.1m
246 Malik Nabers Louisiana State Wide Receiver New York Giants 61.8% $24.4m $18,062,000$18.1m
247 Patrick Queen Louisiana State Inside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers 33.7% $53.3m $17,994,852$18.0m
248 Austin Hooper Stanford Tight End New England Patriots 46.6% $39.5m $17,938,428$17.9m
249 Nico Collins Michigan Wide Receiver Houston Texans 23.3% $57.5m $17,902,920$17.9m
250 Joe Thuney North Carolina State Guard Kansas City Chiefs 17.8% $100.0m $17,773,428$17.8m
251 Tre'Davious White Louisiana State Cornerback Los Angeles Rams 25.8% $69.8m $17,728,989$17.7m
252 Marcus Williams Utah Safety Baltimore Ravens 19.9% $88.5m $17,643,501$17.6m
253 Jerome Baker Ohio State Inside Linebacker Seattle Seahawks 45.9% $39.4m $17,475,200$17.5m
254 Graham Gano Florida State Kicker New York Giants 30.2% $57.3m $17,402,000$17.4m
255 Paris Johnson Ohio State Left Tackle Arizona Cardinals 61.7% $28.2m $17,401,784$17.4m
256 Jonathan Greenard Florida Outside Linebacker Minnesota Vikings 22.1% $61.7m $17,393,980$17.4m
257 Donte Jackson Louisiana State Cornerback Pittsburgh Steelers 50.0% $36.3m $17,330,017$17.3m
258 Amon-Ra St. Brown Southern California Wide Receiver Detroit Lions 13.9% $66.6m $17,285,252$17.3m
259 Ikem Ekwonu North Carolina State Left Tackle Carolina Panthers 62.5% $27.6m $17,229,492$17.2m
260 Aaron Jones Texas El-Paso Running Back Minnesota Vikings 42.7% $41.7m $17,195,998$17.2m
261 Tremaine Edmunds Virginia Tech Inside Linebacker Chicago Bears 17.4% $97.7m $17,036,941$17.0m
262 Malik Hooker Ohio State Safety Dallas Cowboys 42.6% $41.4m $17,003,570$17.0m
263 A'Shawn Robinson Alabama Defensive End Carolina Panthers 35.0% $51.1m $16,971,280$17.0m
264 DaQuan Jones Penn State Defensive Tackle Buffalo Bills 33.1% $51.3m $16,955,400$17.0m
265 Alex Highsmith Charlotte Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers 22.8% $58.5m $16,832,296$16.8m
266 Marshon Lattimore Ohio State Cornerback New Orleans Saints 13.6% $123.2m $16,810,591$16.8m
267 Morgan Moses Virginia Right Tackle New York Jets 34.4% $48.2m $16,577,576$16.6m
268 David Njoku Miami (FL) Tight End Cleveland Browns 24.4% $70.4m $16,532,342$16.5m
269 Nick Chubb Georgia Running Back Cleveland Browns 45.3% $36.4m $16,374,524$16.4m
270 Noah Fant Iowa Tight End Seattle Seahawks 40.8% $40.6m $16,176,888$16.2m
271 Zach Allen Boston College Defensive End Denver Broncos 31.5% $51.7m $16,142,736$16.1m
272 Bryce Huff Memphis Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles 28.1% $57.5m $16,140,000$16.1m
273 Damien Lewis Louisiana State Guard Carolina Panthers 27.8% $46.6m $16,125,192$16.1m
274 Julian Love Notre Dame Safety Seattle Seahawks 33.6% $39.3m $16,090,860$16.1m
275 Alvin Kamara Tennessee Running Back New Orleans Saints 20.3% $79.8m $15,972,772$16.0m
276 Vonn Bell Ohio State Safety Cincinnati Bengals 43.6% $35.3m $15,923,945$15.9m
277 Cameron Sutton Tennessee Cornerback Pittsburgh Steelers 54.3% $29.1m $15,808,352$15.8m
278 JC Latham Alabama Left Tackle Tennessee Titans 60.5% $21.7m $15,761,956$15.8m
279 Justin Jones North Carolina State Defensive Tackle Arizona Cardinals 32.9% $48.2m $15,604,140$15.6m
280 Jonathan Jones Auburn Cornerback New England Patriots 36.2% $45.0m $15,585,000$15.6m
281 Darnell Mooney Tulane Wide Receiver Atlanta Falcons 35.5% $44.6m $15,282,052$15.3m
282 Tyree Wilson Texas Tech Defensive End Las Vegas Raiders 60.7% $25.0m $15,185,816$15.2m
283 Jordan Phillips Oklahoma Defensive Tackle Dallas Cowboys 39.8% $37.2m $15,105,363$15.1m
284 Jabrill Peppers Michigan Safety New England Patriots 31.3% $46.3m $15,061,446$15.1m
285 Michael Pierce Samford Defensive Tackle Baltimore Ravens 49.2% $30.6m $15,060,000$15.1m
286 Evan Neal Alabama Right Tackle New York Giants 61.2% $24.6m $15,035,460$15.0m
287 Terence Steele Texas Tech Right Tackle Dallas Cowboys 17.5% $55.1m $15,010,000$15.0m
288 Frankie Luvu Washington State Outside Linebacker Washington Commanders 36.1% $42.9m $14,881,174$14.9m
289 Jordyn Brooks Texas Tech Inside Linebacker Miami Dolphins 39.6% $38.5m $14,833,624$14.8m
290 Case Keenum Houston Quarterback Houston Texans 27.1% $51.4m $14,820,235$14.8m
291 DJ Chark Louisiana State Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers 64.6% $23.8m $14,764,349$14.8m
292 Jerry Jeudy Alabama Wide Receiver Cleveland Browns 18.1% $57.8m $14,622,436$14.6m
293 Roy Robertson-Harris Texas El-Paso Defensive Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars 30.1% $50.6m $14,507,000$14.5m
294 Will Dissly Washington Tight End Los Angeles Chargers 42.9% $34.2m $14,450,270$14.5m
295 Javon Kinlaw South Carolina Defensive Tackle New York Jets 64.0% $22.7m $14,324,504$14.3m
296 Cesar Ruiz Michigan Guard New Orleans Saints 25.2% $47.2m $14,281,240$14.3m
297 Cordarrelle Patterson Tennessee Running Back Pittsburgh Steelers 31.1% $45.7m $14,231,672$14.2m
298 Azeez Al-Shaair Florida Atlantic Inside Linebacker Houston Texans 33.2% $45.0m $14,185,000$14.2m
299 Chris Boswell Rice Kicker Pittsburgh Steelers 33.9% $41.3m $14,003,000$14.0m
300 Tyler Biadasz Wisconsin Center Washington Commanders 41.0% $34.9m $13,994,400$14.0m

The table holds the 300 biggest of 1,905 careers with signing money on them. The all-time list ranks every career the site holds, and each player page carries the seven parts of his own deals season by season.

The careers that are mostly signing money

Signing bonus as a share of everything a player was paid

Careers over $20.0m

# Player Position Signing Earned Share
01 Zach Wilson Denver Broncos Quarterback $25.7m $32.4m 73.0%
02 Jeff Okudah Houston Texans Cornerback $27.1m $34.6m 71.7%
03 Hayden Hurst Los Angeles Chargers Tight End $20.0m $28.8m 69.6%
04 Andre Dillard Green Bay Packers Right Tackle $19.0m $23.9m 68.8%
05 Mitchell Trubisky Buffalo Bills Quarterback $33.4m $51.2m 65.3%
06 Travon Walker Jacksonville Jaguars Outside Linebacker $24.4m $37.4m 65.1%
07 Trey Lance Dallas Cowboys Quarterback $22.2m $34.1m 65.0%
08 Aidan Hutchinson Detroit Lions Defensive End $23.2m $35.7m 64.8%
09 Bryce Young Carolina Panthers Quarterback $24.6m $38.0m 64.8%
10 Caleb Williams Chicago Bears Quarterback $25.5m $33.3m 64.7%
11 De'Vondre Campbell San Francisco 49ers Outside Linebacker $24.9m $39.2m 64.6%
12 DJ Chark Los Angeles Chargers Wide Receiver $14.8m $23.8m 64.6%
13 Derek Stingley Jr. Houston Texans Cornerback $22.4m $34.7m 64.6%
14 C.J. Stroud Houston Texans Quarterback $23.4m $36.3m 64.5%
15 Jayden Daniels Washington Commanders Quarterback $24.3m $31.8m 64.3%
16 Ahmad Gardner New York Jets Cornerback $21.5m $33.5m 64.3%
17 Will Anderson Houston Texans Defensive End $22.6m $35.2m 64.2%
18 Drake Maye New England Patriots Quarterback $23.5m $30.8m 64.0%
19 Javon Kinlaw New York Jets Defensive Tackle $14.3m $22.7m 64.0%
20 Anthony Richardson Indianapolis Colts Quarterback $21.7m $34.0m 63.9%
21 Marvin Harrison Jr. Arizona Cardinals Wide Receiver $22.5m $29.8m 63.7%
22 Kayvon Thibodeaux New York Giants Outside Linebacker $20.0m $31.3m 63.7%
23 Clelin Ferrell Washington Commanders Defensive End $23.2m $37.6m 63.7%
24 JuJu Smith-Schuster Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receiver $24.5m $32.2m 63.6%
25 Chase Young New Orleans Saints Defensive End $25.1m $48.6m 63.5%
26 Devon Witherspoon Seattle Seahawks Cornerback $20.2m $31.9m 63.3%
27 Joe Alt Los Angeles Chargers Right Tackle $20.9m $27.8m 63.1%
28 Ikem Ekwonu Carolina Panthers Left Tackle $17.2m $27.6m 62.5%
29 Malik Nabers New York Giants Wide Receiver $18.1m $24.4m 61.8%
30 Paris Johnson Arizona Cardinals Left Tackle $17.4m $28.2m 61.7%
31 Evan Neal New York Giants Right Tackle $15.0m $24.6m 61.2%
32 Tyree Wilson Las Vegas Raiders Defensive End $15.2m $25.0m 60.7%
33 JC Latham Tennessee Titans Left Tackle $15.8m $21.7m 60.5%
34 Charles Cross Seattle Seahawks Left Tackle $12.7m $21.4m 59.5%
35 Drake London Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver $12.8m $21.7m 59.2%
36 Bijan Robinson Atlanta Falcons Running Back $13.0m $22.0m 59.1%
37 Garrett Wilson New York Jets Wide Receiver $12.1m $20.6m 59.0%
38 Jalen Carter Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle $12.9m $21.8m 59.0%
39 Michael Penix Jr. Atlanta Falcons Quarterback $13.5m $19.0m 58.8%
40 Rome Odunze Chicago Bears Wide Receiver $13.3m $18.8m 58.7%

Zach Wilson has taken 73.0% of his money up front, against 0.1% for Mo Alie-Cox at the other end of the same list. Both are careers of over $20.0m, so the difference is not size: it is whether a club paid to lock somebody in or paid him year by year for turning up.

Signing bonus by position

How much of each position's money arrives up front

League average 27.6%

Defensive End 31.0% Outside Linebacker 29.8% Defensive Tackle 28.5% Quarterback 28.3% Wide Receiver 28.3% Running Back 27.9% Cornerback 27.6% Safety 27.5% Left Tackle 27.0% Inside Linebacker 26.9% Tight End 26.2% Right Tackle 25.8% Guard 25.2% Center 24.2% Kicker 23.0% Fullback 20.3% Punter 18.1% Long Snapper 8.3%

Defensive End is the position paid most up front, 31.0% of everything it has earned, and Long Snapper the least at 8.3%. A position paid mostly up front is a position a club is committing to years in advance; a position paid mostly in base salary is one it can walk away from in March.

Signing bonus paid each season

The money handed over up front, year by year

Peak in 2024

2024 is the biggest year for signing money on record at $3,158,307,018, which was 38.8% of that season's payroll. A signing bonus year is lumpy by construction: it tracks when the league's big contracts happened to come up rather than how much the league was spending.

Signing bonus by franchise

What the players on each roster were paid up front

32 franchises

# Franchise Players Signing bonus
01 New York Jets 62 $584,203,667$584.2m
02 Cleveland Browns 65 $571,783,600$571.8m
03 Miami Dolphins 65 $545,749,345$545.7m
04 Houston Texans 63 $538,305,686$538.3m
05 Pittsburgh Steelers 63 $533,031,618$533.0m
06 San Francisco 49ers 60 $532,927,045$532.9m
07 Dallas Cowboys 57 $518,548,675$518.5m
08 Philadelphia Eagles 60 $504,029,191$504.0m
09 Atlanta Falcons 59 $500,638,409$500.6m
10 Jacksonville Jaguars 59 $480,873,216$480.9m
11 Carolina Panthers 64 $463,898,041$463.9m
12 Detroit Lions 63 $457,685,632$457.7m
13 Washington Commanders 57 $450,778,519$450.8m
14 Seattle Seahawks 55 $430,704,255$430.7m
15 Baltimore Ravens 61 $430,487,661$430.5m
16 Green Bay Packers 55 $425,986,792$426.0m
17 Minnesota Vikings 60 $421,287,054$421.3m
18 New Orleans Saints 59 $418,097,392$418.1m
19 Los Angeles Chargers 58 $390,564,305$390.6m
20 Tennessee Titans 58 $365,614,246$365.6m
21 Buffalo Bills 57 $365,503,455$365.5m
22 New York Giants 57 $354,099,180$354.1m
23 Indianapolis Colts 60 $342,097,297$342.1m
24 New England Patriots 60 $333,809,798$333.8m
25 Kansas City Chiefs 55 $331,194,139$331.2m
26 Chicago Bears 60 $304,001,543$304.0m
27 Cincinnati Bengals 60 $303,881,085$303.9m
28 Arizona Cardinals 58 $295,725,290$295.7m
29 Los Angeles Rams 61 $293,015,624$293.0m
30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 60 $286,366,695$286.4m
31 Denver Broncos 59 $252,374,885$252.4m
32 Las Vegas Raiders 55 $207,351,489$207.4m

Frequently asked questions

Who has earned the most signing bonus money in the NFL?

Aaron Rodgers, $182,514,706 across 21 seasons. Russell Wilson is second on $147,829,400.

How much signing bonus money has the NFL paid?

$13,234,614,829, which is 27.6% of everything the league has itemised and the second biggest part of an NFL contract after base salary.

Is an NFL signing bonus guaranteed?

Yes. It is paid up front and it does not come back if the player is cut, which is the difference between it and base salary. That is why a contract's guaranteed figure and its headline figure are two different numbers, and why the guaranteed one is the one an agent argues about.

Which position gets the most signing bonus money?

Defensive End, where 31.0% of everything the position has been paid arrived as signing money. Across the whole league the figure is 27.6%.

Why is a signing bonus spread over several years?

For the cap, not for the player. The money is handed over at once and the league lets a club charge it against the cap in equal slices across the length of the deal, up to five years. The figures here are the cash, booked against the season it was actually paid in.

How many NFL players have earned over $50m in signing bonuses?

27 of the 1,905 careers with any signing money at all, and 6 have passed $100m.

Where to next

The other six things an NFL contract is made of

Base salary · Bonus money · NFL career earnings · The all-time list · Money under contract · By position · By franchise · By draft round

The fifty biggest signing bonuses

By position

By season

Elsewhere in American football